The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Tough Fijian Side

Autumn International Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

England notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling second half.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)